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A major bump in the road to building broader, more durable vaccines may not be as much of a hurdle as scientists once thought, new research suggests.
In a study published Dec. 21 in PLOS Biology, a research team led by scientists from the University of Pittsburgh announced they had discovered that when some people receive a trivalent flu vaccine, they produce a type of antibody that overcomes a major viral hurdle to stave off both of the two dominant subtypes of the seasonal bug. By reverse engineering their immune responses, the researchers hope to develop broader, more durable flu vaccines.
Our immune system actually evolved to combat viruses, study lead Kevin McCarthy, Ph.D. told Fierce Biotech Research in an interview. If we understand how it evolved in those individuals who had very strong responses, then maybe we can help guide the evolution of everybodys immune system to make similar responses.
Flu vaccines currently target four subtypes of influenzatwo different flu A viruses known as H1 and H3. and two flu B viruses, which include a Yamagata lineage virus and a Victoria lineage virus. The specific strains from each type that the vaccine will protect against are selected based on predictions made with surveillance data from influenza centers around the world. While some years vaccines may carry over protection from the prior year, they generally need to be reformulated annually.
The vaccines work by prompting immune cells called B cells to generate antibodies against the selected strains. These antibodies bind to a protein on the surface of the virus called hemagglutinin, which normally helps the virus infect cells. Blocking hemagglutinin prevents the virus from getting inside. Hemagglutinin evolves over time, resulting in new flu strains. Researchers have been trying for years to figure out how to target multiple strainsspecifically, strains of both subtypes H1 and H3with a single antibody. While some antibodies with the H3 mutation can indeed target H1, theres a major caveat: If the H1 antibodies have a mutation in their hemagglutinin called the 133a insertion, the H3 antibodies wont recognize them.
But as it turns out, humans can produce antibodies that circumvent the 133a insertion and protect against H3 and H1 strains, as McCarthys lab found in their new study. Using blood taken from donors before and after they received a flu vaccine, the researchers collaborated with scientists from Johns Hopkins University to examine individual B cells and the antibodies they produced, then profile the antibodies in a high-throughput fashion, McCarthy explained.
The results contained an exciting discovery: Two of the donors produced antibodies to H3 and H1 with or without the 133a insertion. Intriguingly, they were also around the same age, with similar histories of exposure to the flu: Both were children in the early 1990s, and both had antibodies that bound strongly to H3 strains from the decade. Their antibodies also contained an adaptation that allows the flu virus to grow better in chicken eggs, one of the flu vaccine manufacturing processes.
Their history may have led to a "jackpot event," as McCarthy described it.
Its really tempting to speculate that these people were infected as kids before childhood vaccination with the flu was really a thing, and then the vaccines came in with this adaptation and elicited a very strong response, McCarthy explained. I think what it shows is that the proper series of events are capable of eliciting similar antibodies quite strongly, and so that gives us a clue for how one can figure out ways to improve vaccines.
Notably, the finding is not a step toward a universal flu vaccine, a goal of many researchers and biotechs. In fact, it may be evidence that targeting hemagglutinin alone is unlikely to be enough to create a vaccine against all strains of the flu, McCarthy said.
An important point of this is that probably no single antibody or one single site on the flu hemagglutinin protein is going to be sufficient to have a universal vaccine, he said. So what we found here expands the repertoire of possibilities of antibodies that can engage different subtypes of influenza.
Next, the researchers plan to take what theyve learned from the donors and use it trace the events that resulted in the development of these antibodies.
Were trying to also characterize broad antibody responseswhich we can then use to rationally design vaccines that will elicit very strong responses simultaneously to multiple sites across the molecule, McCarthy said.
Continued here:
Researchers find new flu antibodies that could improve vaccines - FierceBiotech
A COVID-19 and influenza vaccine on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
EVERETT Flu season is about to hit its peak, health officials say. But its not too late to get vaccinated.
Earlier this month, local hospitals and clinics tightened mask policies to prevent spread of the big three respiratory viruses: COVID, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Snohomish County saw a rate of 27 new COVID cases last week, continuing a trend of low-to-medium transmission in the county. But rates for flu and RSV the leading cause of infant hospitalization are rising.
Flu is just getting started, county Health Officer James Lewis said. It will likely peak in the next few weeks.
Just over 15% of people in Washington have been vaccinated with the latest COVID shot. About 16% of seniors have been vaccinated against RSV. And the flu vaccination rate was 27%, as of Friday.
Snohomish Countys vaccination rates are comparable to those statewide. In general, fewer people have been vaccinated this flu season lasting from about October to March than the previous three. Nationwide, adult flu vaccinations are around 8 million doses behind last seasons rate, insurance claim data show. Flu shots in children are down around 5% from last season.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory last week regarding low vaccination rates and a strain on hospitals across the United States. Hospital stays for respiratory virus infections increased nationwide over the past month: 200% for flu, 51% for COVID and 60% for RSV.
In Snohomish County, people with COVID were visiting the emergency department at a rate of 1.7%, below a transmission alert threshold of 3%. Flu and RSV emergency visits were above the thresholds for those viruses. The latest flu rates were recorded at 2.2%, compared to an alert threshold of 1%. RSV rates were at 0.9%, with a threshold of 0.3%. These visit rates resemble statewide trends.
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett saw flu and RSV cases double over the past two months, hospital records show.
Providence Swedish recommends that everyone remain vigilant in protecting themselves and their loved ones from respiratory viruses through vaccination, spokesperson Erika Hermanson said.
Hospitals in the county have worked at high capacity for years, Lewis said, but it gets worse during flu season. People can reduce hospital strain by getting vaccinated, masking in crowded indoor spaces and limiting emergency visits when possible. Nurse call lines can help people determine if they need to visit the emergency room. The Everett Clinic, Providence and most health insurance companies have nurse lines.
Though COVID case rates in the county have remained lower than last year, the virus remains more deadly than flu or RSV. Since October, 297 people have died from COVID in Washington. Fewer than 10 people in the state have died from the flu or RSV.
Folks want to say the pandemic is over, Lewis said. Whatever terminology you use, the pathogen is still around. Its a strain on our health care system, and its causing mortality.
Have you gotten vaccinated this year against COVID and the flu?
The fastest-growing COVID variant in the United States is JN.1, a descendant of the BA.2.86 variant, known as Pirola. JN.1 made up 29% of infections nationwide in the past two weeks, up from 8.8% in November, according to the CDC. This years COVID vaccine, designed to protect against variants EG.5 and BA.2.86, is also said to be effective against JN.1.
People may avoid a vaccine because they think it can cause illness, Lewis said. Thats a myth.
Its impossible, he said. The vaccine does not contain the whole virus and cant cause disease. But someone may get sick with another virus around the same time they get their vaccine.
The risk of severe illness and death is much higher for those who are unvaccinated, said Yuan-Po Tu, medical director for disease and outbreak response at Optum Pacific Northwest. In addition, vaccines are better at protecting against severe illness than immunity from a natural infection, he said.
This year marks the first available RSV child immunizations and vaccines recommended for pregnant people and seniors. The United States has seen a shortage of child immunizations due to underestimated demand and supply chain issues, Lewis said, but more are on the way.
The flu and COVID vaccines, recommended for everyone 6 and older, are safe to get at the same time. The latest COVID vaccine can cost over $100, but most insurance companies cover it. Free vaccines for adults can be found through the federal Bridge Access Program. Vaccines for Children providers vaccinate under- or uninsured children.
Lewis said testing and treatment resources for COVID at the county and state level have all but dried up.
Theyre really going away unfortunately, he said. I recommend people check costs with providers ahead of time.
People can still apply for free tests from the federal government. Under- or uninsured people can apply for free Paxlovid treatment.
Tu, who worked on the original COVID nasal swabs for testing, said he trusts the accuracy of home tests. The federal Food and Drug Administration has found home tests consistently detect COVID regardless of the variant. Since home tests are less sensitive to the virus than more expensive tests, Tu said, they may show a false negative at the very onset of an infection. If someone thinks they may have COVID but test negative, they should test again.
Amid a recent spread of respiratory illness in dogs, some may be concerned about infecting their pets with COVID. While this can happen, Tu said its uncommon.
We dont typically test Snoopy, Tu said. But Charlie Brown would say, If youre sick, dont kiss your dog.
Flu season resources:
State vaccine locator;
Federal vaccine search by zip code. Text zip code to GETVAX (438829);
Personal vaccination records;
Bridge Access Program for adult vaccines;
Vaccines for Children providers;
Free tests from the federal government;
Paxlovid for the under- or uninsured;
State testing and treatment resources; and
County reports on flu, COVID and RSV.
Sydney Jackson: 425-339-3430; sydney.jackson@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @_sydneyajackson.
Read more:
As flu season rises, a quarter of Washingtonians are vaccinated | HeraldNet.com - The Daily Herald
With the influenza season in full swing, public health officials are still urging anyone who is eligible to get the vaccine.
Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says the flu vaccine is available at several locations, including pharmacies, primary care physicians and at public health. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio about the flu vaccine and what it is designed to protect against.
Your vaccine for flu, its called quadrivalent. So its two Type A (Influenza) and two Type B (Influenza). Your Type B are more milder symptoms of influenza (and) Type A is pretty nasty.
Wolf talks about why it is important for eligible individuals to get a flu vaccine.
Were trying to create a community blanket of protection because we know there are certain people that cannot get the flu vaccine. So we want to create herd immunity and that means that we get as many people vaccinated as possible to blanket the people that cant get it.
Wolf reminds everyone it takes two weeks for the vaccine to take full effect. Call Greene County Public Health at 515-386-3228 to schedule an appointment to get a flu vaccine.
Read more:
Greene County Public Health Reminds Everyone to Get a Flu Shot this Winter - Raccoon Valley Radio
Flu cases have been increasing in Texas since mid-October. Health officials encourage people to get vaccinated against the flu, along with other respiratory viruses like RSV and COVID-19, to prevent the spread during the holidays.
Lets spread joy, love, happiness, said Willie Underwood, the board chair of the American Medical Association. Lets have opportunities with our friends and families. Lets travel, and not be on a plane or a train and giving multiple people the flu at the same time. Best way to do that is to get vaccinated.
Like the COVID-19 vaccine, it takes about two weeks after getting a flu shot to develop immunity to the virus.
The flu is especially harmful to infants, people 65 years and older, and people who are pregnant. Since October, more than 1,300 Texans have died from the flu and pneumonia, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. That includes 1,000 people 65 and older.
The flu can kill you, and it can lead to you being hospitalized, Underwood said. It can lead to you missing out on family events, missing work, missing opportunities. So, the goal is to prevent that.
The number of flu vaccinations given this year is lower nationally now than in both 2021 and 2022. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 152 million flu vaccine doses have been distributed since Dec. 2.
Chris Parker, associate director for field services with the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said flu season peaks between December and February. The CDC recommends everyone be vaccinated by late October, but its not too late to get the vaccine now.
As we approach the peak season, its important that everyone who hasnt done so, get their flu shot to protect themselves, their family members and also our communities, Parker said.
Texans can find more information about flu shots near them by visiting GetMyFluShot.org.
Got a tip? Email Elena Rivera aterivera@kera.org
KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, considermaking a tax-deductible gift today.Thank you.
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No, seriously, it's time to get your flu shot in North Texas before the holidays - KERA News
TAMPA, Fla. MoneeVongsalathas her hands full.With twoyoung daughtersand a career, the flu is one stress she wants to cross off her list.
I choose to get the flu shot for my kids every year, Vongsalat said. My girls go to daycare and then I work around a lot of different people, in and out of homes. So, Im just trying to protect them as much as I can.
Credit: 10 Tampa Bay
Monee Vongsalat and her daughters
But as flu cases are going up, the number of people getting the flu shot is going down.
Centers forDiseaseControl and Preventiondatashows Americans are lagging in getting flu vaccines, compared to previous flu seasons.
Unfortunately,wereseeing fewer people come in for flu shots. And I think a lot of it is related to ourpast experienceduring COVID, during the pandemic, when there were lots of questions and concerns about vaccines,saidDr. Nichelle Threadgill, Chief Medical Officer atEvaraHealth.
According to CDC data, since the end of October,healthcare providers have given fewer vaccines per week than during those same weeks in thepreviousfour seasons.
Credit: CDC
CDC data on flu shot doses
Things are likely to get more significant and more severe especially after we think about the period after Christmas, when everyone's been getting together at home, at church, at parties, CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr. Nirav D. Shah told 10 Tampa Bay.
That creates particular concern for people of color, who are less likely to get vaccinatedandmore likely to experience serious health outcomes from the flu.
People of color often experience a lot of conditions a lot more severely, she said.A lot of it is related to baseline health. A lot of it is related to socioeconomics and access to healthcare. A lot of it is related to willingness to report conditions because of distrust in the medical system.
According to the CDC,itssafe to get your flu, COVID and RSV shots at the same time.All three infections are on the rise right now.Itwill take about two weeks beforeyourefully protected.
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As flu cases go up, vaccine doses are going down compared to previous years - WTSP.com
ARLINGTON, Va., BETHESDA, Md., CHICAGO and DALLAS During National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 4-8, 2023), leading public health organizations are encouraging everyone to get a flu shot if they have not already done so. The flu is more than an inconvenience: it can lead to hospitalization, worsening of chronic medical conditions or even death. An annual flu vaccine is the best way to help prevent complications from the flu. [1]
The American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the American Diabetes Association and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases are teaming up to reach those who have not yet received a flu vaccine this season with an important message: its not too late to protect yourself and others by getting your flu shot.
Even if you are not at higher risk for a serious case of the flu, getting vaccinated helps protect those around you who are more vulnerable, like people age 65 and older and people with chronic conditions like heart disease or stroke, diabetes or lung disease. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in recent years, about 9 out of every 10 people who were in the hospital due to the flu had at least one underlying medical condition.[2]
Although the best time to get vaccinated in the U.S. is in the fall, before flu viruses begin spreading in your community,[3] experts say those who havent gotten a flu vaccine yet should do so as soon as possible.
Virtually everyone can benefit from a flu shot, and thats especially true for people with chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes who have weakened immune systems and have worse flu if they get it, said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, the American Heart Associations chief medical officer for prevention. Even if you feel well now or think you can fight off the flu if you get it, it is important to get vaccinated to protect the loved ones around you who may be at higher risk for dangerous complications.
Last fall, we saw cases of the flu increase earlier than typical years. Thankfully, flu vaccination provided substantial protection for people across the U.S., said Albert Rizzo, M.D., chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. We know that getting a flu shot is the best way to help protect yourself, your family and your community against flu and severe illness from the flu. And this protection is especially important for certain people at increased risk for developing serious complications such as those living with chronic medical conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic lung diseases.
If you are over 65, you should ask about getting one of the three flu vaccines that are specifically recommended for your age, because studies have shown they trigger a better immune response in older adults than standard flu vaccines. However, if one of the specific vaccines is not available, you should still get whatever vaccine is available, as they all provide some protection and can lessen complications from flu. Additionally, it is safe to get the flu shot at the same time as an updated COVID-19 vaccine or booster for COVID-19.
In recent years, almost a third of the people hospitalized due to the flu had diabetes,[4] said Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD, the ADAs chief scientific and medical officer. The threat of flu and COVID is particularly high to someone with diabetes, especially considering many people who live with diabetes have other complications like heart disease and kidney disease. Staying up to date on all annual vaccines and the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone who is eligible, especially those living with diabetes and other chronic illness.
According to a National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) survey, more than 1 in 4 US adults (28%) who are at higher risk for flu-related complications, including older adults and people with chronic health conditions, said they were not planning to get vaccinated this season. This is concerning because this season is likely to be more complex, as in addition to flu and COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also circulating, said NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD. Fortunately, we now have vaccines to help protect against all 3 of these viruses. Getting vaccinated is critical to help protect yourself, your family, and your community from serious disease and potential complications.
The American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the American Diabetes Association and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases all offer educational resources on their websites about the burden of flu and the importance of vaccination for people with chronic health conditions.
Sources:
Read more from the original source:
Complications from flu largely preventable with annual flu vaccine - American Military News
A high-dose recombinant influenza vaccine (Flublok Quadrivalent) was more protective than an egg-based standard-dose influenza vaccine in adults, according to results of a cluster-randomized, observational study.
Among adults ages 50 to 64, the high-dose vaccine was 15.3% more effective in preventing influenza than the standard-dose vaccine (95% CI 5.9-23.8, P=0.002) and 15.7% more effective against influenza A (95% CI 6.0-24.5, P=0.002), reported Nicola Klein, MD, PhD, from the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center in Oakland, California, and colleagues in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Although the relative benefit of the high-dose vaccine appears to be modest, "reducing breakthrough influenza cases by 15% would provide a substantial public health benefit, especially during more severe influenza seasons," Klein told MedPage Today in an email.
Georges Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association in Washington, D.C., agreed. "The high-dose vaccine increased protection by about 15% overall," he told MedPage Today in an interview. "When you think about the fact that we don't usually get more than 40% to 50%, maybe 60% efficacy in a good year to begin with, that's a nice boost. The study authors convinced me, that for this age range, it does provide better protection than the standard dose," he said.
Researchers did not find that the recombinant vaccine was significantly more protective than the standard-dose vaccine against influenza-related hospitalization. However, "a post hoc analysis combining hospitalization for PCR-confirmed influenza and hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia yielded a relative vaccine effectiveness of 19.7% (95% CI 2.8-33.7)," the authors wrote.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) currently recommends high-dose influenza vaccines for adults ages 65 and older. However, for people younger than 65, ACIP does not preferentially recommend any age-appropriate influenza vaccine over another. Recommended options for this age group include inactivated influenza vaccine, recombinant influenza vaccine, or live attenuated influenza vaccine.
The high-dose recombinant influenza vaccine evaluated in this trial is FDA-approved for adults 18 and older, and is three times the dose of standard-dose influenza vaccines.
Participants included all members of a large U.S.-based integrated healthcare delivery system over seven geographic regions. The study population included 1,630,328 people from the ages of 18 and 64 who were vaccinated for influenza in the healthcare system -- 632,962 received the high-dose recombinant vaccine and 997,366 received the standard-dose vaccine.
Although the study was observational, it had a unique cluster-randomized design "intended to emulate a randomized trial," the authors wrote. Facilities in each region were assigned to Block A or Block B to even out differences in facility size. To achieve balance between the two vaccine groups, facilities alternated on a weekly basis between administering the high-dose recombinant vaccine and the standard dose vaccine. Patients were unaware of which vaccine they received.
During the study period of the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 influenza seasons, 1,386 cases of PCR-confirmed influenza were diagnosed in the recombinant-vaccine group and 2,435 cases in the standard-dose group. Among those who were ages 50 to 64, 559 participants (2 cases per 1000) tested positive for influenza in the recombinant-vaccine group and 925 participants (2.34 cases per 1000) tested positive in the standard-dose group.
The study data were limited to two influenza seasons and relative vaccine effectiveness may vary across seasons, the researchers acknowledged. In addition, participants included in the study might not be representative of other U.S. populations.
Katherine Kahn is a staff writer at MedPage Today, covering the infectious diseases beat. She has been a medical writer for over 15 years.
Disclosures
The study was funded by Sanofi.
Klein has received grants from GlaxoSmith Kline, Merck, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur.
Co-authors reported no relevant disclosures.
Benjamin also reported no relevant disclosures.
Primary Source
New England Journal of Medicine
Source Reference: Hsiao A, et al "Recombinant or standard-dose influenza vaccine in adults under 65 years of age" N Eng J Med 2023; DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2302099.
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High-Dose Recombinant Flu Vax Offers More Protection for Adults 50 to 64 - Medpage Today
By Eve Glazier, M.D.,
and Elizabeth Ko, M.D. Andrews McMeel Syndication
Hello, dear readers, and welcome to our monthly letters column. With chillier weather in much of the country, were getting a lot of questions about flu and COVID-19 prevention. And to everyone who wrote in last month to share your frustration with (and adverse effects from) the return to standard time, you are not alone. The switch prompted some interesting questions about sleep, which well address in future columns. And now, your letters.
Lets begin with the COVID-19 vaccine. The days of the two-shot series, which marked the rollout of the vaccine at the end of 2020, are over. Today, the CDC recommends that everyone 5 years of age and older receive a single dose of what is being called the updated vaccine. And while these are sometimes being referred to as boosters, a reader and physician from Spokane points out thats not exactly accurate. My understanding is that the new COVID-19 vaccine formulation is not considered a booster, she wrote. A person who has never received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past can get the protective benefit of this single vaccination.
Yes, that is correct. The updated vaccine, which protects against the newer variants of the virus, is a stand-alone shot. A single dose offers protection, regardless of previous vaccination status. It is expected that COVID prevention will follow the familiar pattern of the flu vaccine. That is, a single shot, updated each year. Anyone older than 6 months is eligible to get an age-appropriate dose of the updated vaccine. If you have previously received the bivalent vaccine, it is recommended that you wait at least two months before getting the updated shot.
Another popular topic is if its OK to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time. The answer is yes. In fact, an interesting study in a group of health care workers in Massachusetts suggests that doing so may boost immune response. A month after being vaccinated for the flu and COVID, the group who received both vaccines at the same time were found to have higher levels of COVID-fighting antibodies than those who got their shots on separate days. With COVID and flu seasons underway, the important thing is to get vaccinated. The shots lower your risk of getting sick and help protect against severe disease if you do.
We will wrap up with a few words about RSV, which is short for respiratory syncytial virus. In healthy adults, it usually causes mild, coldlike symptoms. Most people recover quickly. But in infants, whose immune systems are still developing, RSV can cause severe symptoms and lead to hospitalization. This year, for the first time, an RSV vaccine has become available. Although manufacturing issues originally limited availability of the vaccine, that bottleneck is now easing. The vaccine protects against severe disease. Parents should check with their pediatricians for availability.
Thank you, as always, for taking the time to write to us. Its wonderful to know that you find the columns interesting, thought-provoking and useful.
Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu.
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Ask the doctors: COVID-19, flu vaccines same to get at same time - The Spokesman Review
Respiratory illness season is on its way, and Sanford Health doctors are urging patients to get vaccinated.
With influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) typically starting in the fall and peaking from December to February, now is the time to get those preventive shots. There also is a new monovalent COVID-19 vaccine for the 2023-24 season.
Get your shots: Make an appointment
The flu vaccine is among the safest and most widely used medical products, said Susan Hoover, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Vaccination can help prevent you from getting influenza, help you be less ill, or prevent hospitalization due to the flu. The time to get a flu shot is now, and you can get it on the same day as an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Patients vaccinated against flu in the Southern Hemisphere, where the flu season is winding down, lowered their chances for severe influenza illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
In addition to vaccination, the CDC urges everyone to take other measures to protect against flu and its potentially severe complications, including avoiding close contact with people who are ill.
The CDC recommends flu vaccinations for everyone 6 months and older, especially those at higher risk of complications including pregnant people, older adults and young children.
An updated COVID-19 vaccine is available for ages 6 months and older.
Sanford Health is now administering the new monovalent COVID-19 vaccine labeled the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, which targets the omicron variant XBB.1.5. This vaccine replaces the most recent bivalent COVID vaccine that came out in 2022.
While new COVID-19 strains circulate, the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine is expected to provide cross-protection this respiratory illness season.
The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine if its been at least two months since their most recent dose.
For the first time, RSV immunizations are available for certain groups.
A single dose of RSV vaccine will be given to adults ages 60 and older. Vaccination is recommended for individuals who have a weakened immune system from illnesses or medications, chronic conditions like heart or lung disease, or live in a nursing home.
A single dose of RSV vaccine is recommended for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy right before or during RSV season to help protect babies for the first six months of their lives.
A new antibody treatment is recommended for infants younger than 8 months old who are born during or entering their first RSV season. Except in rare circumstances, most infants younger than 8 months of age do not need the RSV immunization if they were born 14 or more days after their mother got the RSV vaccine.
Infants and children 8-19 months old who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season should also receive a dose.
Right now, a nationwide shortage of one brand of this antibody treatment has led the CDC to advise two groups to get it first:
The goal is to immunize all infants for RSV, and a similar RSV immunization is available. Talk to your childs provider about the benefits of both options and which one may be right for your child.
Find a clinic near you or make an appointment:
Posted In COVID-19, Flu, Healthy Living, Immunizations
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Vaccinate against a trio of illnesses this fall and winter - Sanford Health News
